Roof ventilator



March 23, 1948. H. B. HAWES 2,438,166

ROOF VENTILATOR Filed Dec. 4, 1944 27 J? I l 25 g9 26 i /9 26 Z/ Z5 22 g 4 INVENTOR 4 y"; \gfARuLn B. HAWEB Z0 gZfla MW ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOOF VENTILATOR Harold B. Hawes, Fairfield, Conn.

Application December 4, 1944, Serial No. 566,548

6 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to a roof ventilator, and particularly a ridge type ventilator for mounting along the ridge of the roof to form a structural part thereof, an object of the invention being to provide a ventilator of such form and appearance as to harmoniously combine with the architectural design of the building. while at the same time providing an effectual ventilator for obtaining complete and uniform ventilation of the interior of the building.

It is particularly proposed to provide a ventilator structure wherein a series of longitudinally spaced vertical pipe members is provided, these members projecting above the mounting base of the ventilator and being surmounted by a continuous cap member, disposed over the open ends of the pipe membersand extended inwardly and each side being defined by the convergent surfaces of the cap member and the base of the ventilator, and the spaces themselves being defined by the convergent surfaces of the adjacent pipe members, so that a substantial velocity increase is induced in the horizontal flow of air through the ventilator, and an efiectual aspirating effect is produced in the cap member to forcibly draw streams of air upwardly through the pipe members. This aspirating effect, combined with the upward flow of warm air naturally induced in the pipe members, results in a uniform and rapid out-flow of air through the ventilator.

A further object is to provide a ventilator which will effectually seal the roofagainst theentrance of rain, snow, and the like, while at the same time permitting the uninterrupted horizontal flow of air through the air flow spaces between the pipe members.

A further object is to provide damper means for closing or controlling the'opening of the ventilator pipe members, such damper means being out of the path of the horizontal flow of air currents through the spaces between the pipe members.

With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in vertical section, of one end of the ridge structure of a roof provided with a ventilator according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawing, the roof structure comprises a ridge beamlll, rafters II, nailing strips I2 and a roof covering l3, the latter being of any suitable type, as for instance shingles, slate, and the like. The upper nailing strips l2 and the upper edges of the roof covering l3 are disposed in spaced relation to the ridge center of the roof, so as to provide a substantial air space at each side of and above the ridge beam Ill. To the upper marginal portions of the roof covering there are secured curb strips I4 for the purpose of attaching the ventilator unit, according to the invention.

The ventilator unit comprises a base [5 formed of sheet metal, and bent along longitudinal lines to provide a central longitudinally extending horizontal portion and inclined portions at each side parallel to the inclined sides of the roof, these side portions being provided at their lower edges with attaching flanges l6 engaged over the lower edges of the curb strips l4 and secured thereto by nails H. The horizontal central portion of the ventilator base is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced circular openings having upwardly bent rim flanges l8, and in each of which is secured a pipe member l9. Each of these pipe members is provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending flange 20 engaging the under side of the ventilator base and with external screw threads 2| extending above the base, a clamping nut 22 being screwed thereon in clamping relation with the upper side of the base. This clamping nut is provided at its under side with a tapered recess 23 in which is engaged the rim flange l8, tightening of the nut causin the flange to be tightly compressed about the pipe member. While this provides a tight weather seal, a suitable weather sealing mastic material 24 is preferably placed within the recess 23 about the rim flange [8.

In practice, th pipe members may be approxi mately 2 /2 to 3 inches in diameter and spaced apart a distance of 3 to 4 inches, and they preferably extend the full length of the ventilator. At suitable intervals yoke members 25 are secured to certain of the pipe members by means of screws 25 at each side, these yoke members being of circular form and being attached at a substantial distance below the upper ends of the pipe members, for the purpose of retaining upon the pipe members the cap member 21. This cap the longitudinal edges of the damper.

3 member is of cylindrical form, open at its under side and extends the full length of the ventilator, being mounted within the yoke members so .that itsloweredges abut the sides of the pip members, andare in upwardly spaced parallel relation to the ventilator base. At each end the cap member is closed by a flanged cover 28, welded or otherwise suitably secured in place.

The pipe members are preferably provided at their upper ends with a flanged screen insert 29 for the purpose of preventing entrance of'insects, dirt, etc., through the pipe members.

Within the cap member there is provided a damper 30 having at its under side a suitable sealing layer 3| for engaging the upper ends of the pipe members, this sealing layer being secured by the folded flanges 32 extending along For the purpose of raising and lowering the damper, to close the pipe members or to adjust the open space above them, it is supported upon a series of screw posts 32' mounted in certain of the pipe members spaced'at suitable distances apart, these posts being each connected to the damper by a swivel'pin connection-Stand provided with a high pitch threadd i engagedin an internally threaded bushing-35 secured in the pipe member by means of a set screw 36. At its lower end the screw post is provided with a lever arm 3?, pivotally connected at 38 to a horizontal drawrod 39, provided' with a handle 40 extending downwardly atone side ofthe ridgebeam l0. Longitudinal movement of the draw rod imparts swinging movement to the lever arms 31 of the several screw posts causing them to be simultaneously rotated and moving the damper between the raised open position, shown in full lines in Fig. l, andthe lowered closed position, shown in clotand-dash lines in Fig; 1. Partial movement of the draw rod between its extreme positions will move the'damper to any desired position of 'ad provides a horizontal air flow space through the ventilator, the entrances to this space at each side being defined by the convex outer surface of the cap memberand the downwardly inclined sides oi the base member, so that these entrances converge and result in an accelerated flow of air through the ventilator. Thisflow of air is along air flow paths between the pipe members 19; and the external opposed cylindrical surfaces of the adjacent pipe members are such that the air flow spaces between them converge fromeach side to the center. Hence, there is an additional accelcrating efiectas the air fl-ows'between the pipes. Thus with very little air curent there is a substantially accelerated flow, of air, through the ventilator causing a suction or'aspirating effect in thecap member of a relatively high order; This in turn draws streams of air upwardly through the pipemembers, and in combination with the natural upward flowrofthe higher temperature air within the, roof enclosure results in a rapid and .unifiorm ventilation of the building. The capmember 21: protects the openends of the pipe members against'the entrance of vertically falling rain as well as diagonally or horizontally driven wind swept rain, the latter being carried through the air flow spaces below, the upperends of the pipe members. 7

I haveillustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiment of, the invention, I but it will be understood that. changesmay be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to securebyLetters, Patent is: 1. A ventilator, comprising a base adapted to be mounted over an elongated opening and having a series of longitudinally spaced upwardly extending tubular pipe members carried by said base andproviding a series of longitudinally spaced vertical air-flow passages, the outer surfaces of saidpipe'members being spaced apart to provide spaces between said pipe members constituting a series of longitudinally spaced transverse airflow passages across said base, and a longitudinally extending cap member disposed in spaced relation above and extending betweemthe upper ends of said pipe members and extending *downwardly at each side thereof, its lower edgesbein transversely spaced to provide a continuousiopen under side in air communication with said trans! verse air-flow spaces and being substantially below-the plane of the upper endsof saidpipe members and in spaced parallel relation above said base to define with said base ateach; side of the ventilator longitudinal air-iiow'entltmce spaces to said transverse air-flow passagesand support means fixing the positionof said:.-ca

member with-respect said pipe members.-

' 2. A ventilator, comprising a base'adaptedto be mounted over an elongated openingandhavsing a series of-longitudinally spacedupwardly-elk tending tubular pipe members carried bysaidjbasc and providing a series of longitudinally spaced vertical air-flow passages, the outer suriacessqf said pipe members being spaced apart to provide spaces between said pipe members constituting -a series of longitudinally spaced transverse: air,- flow passages across saidbasaand a longitudinally extending cap member disposed; in,- spaced relation above and extending between the upper ends of. said pipe members andextending downwardly at each side thereof, its 'loweredges being transversely spaced to-provide acontinuousropen under side in air communication with said-trans. verse air-flow spaces and beingssubstantially below the planeof the upper ends,ofsaid pipe members andin spaced parallel relation above said base to define with said base-at 'eachfilde of the ventilatorlongitudinal air-flow entrance spaces to said transverse air-flowpassages, and the outer side surfaces of saidcap member-converging downwardly and inwardly towardsaid longitudinal air-flow entrance spaces. p K j 3. A ventilator, comprising a vbaseadapted to be mounted over an elongated opening, aseries of longitudinally spaced tubular pipe members extending upwardly from-said base, the outer surfaces of said tubular pipe members. above said base being spaced apart-to providetransverse-airflow passages-between them, a longitudinally extending cap member disposed above said pipe members having a longitudinal opening in-its under side in which is engaged the upper' ends of said pipe members, the lower edges-of-saidcap member at each side being in parallel upwardly extending cylindrical cap member: disposed above said pipe. members having a longitudinaloneningin its under-side in which isein eg d-the upper ends of said pipe members, the lower edges of said cap member at each side being in parallel upwardly spaced relation to said base.

5. A ventilator, comprising a base adapted to be mounted over an elongated opening and having a series of longitudinally spaced upwardly flanged pipe receiving openings, a pipe member engaged upwardly through each of said openings having a flange at its lower end engaging the under side of said base and an external screw thread extending above said base, and a nut engaged With said screw thread bearing upon the upper side of said base and having a tapered recess in its under side engaged by said flange of said opening, and a longitudinally extending cap member disposed above said pipe members and extending downwardly at each side thereof into spaced relation with said base.

6. A ventilator, comprising a base adapted to be mounted over an elongated opening, a series of longitudinally spaced pipe members extending upwardly from said base, a longitudinally extending cap member disposed above said pipe members and extending downwardly at each side thereof into spaced relation with said base, a longitudinally extending damper in said cap member above said pipe members, screw-posts 6 in certain of said pipe members swivelly connected to said damper, and actuating means connected to said screw-posts for simultaneously rotating them to raise and lower said damper.

HAROLD B. HAWES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 426,750 Andrew Apr. 29, 1890 799,755 Powell et al Sept. 19, 1905 2,030,388 Muirhead et al Feb. 11, 1936 2,099,309 McDerment Nov. 16, 1937 2,147,240 Calkins Feb. 14, 1939 2,200,031 Lee May 7, 1940 2,214,183 Seymour Sept. 10, 1940 2,230,408 Lackey Feb. 4, 1941 2,294,263 Wilson Aug. 25, 1942 2,307,272 Houseman Jan. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 185,565 Germany May 30, 1907 311,107 Great Britain May 9, 1929 

